When Will I See Effects of An Anti-Aging Cream?

Aging is a natural process that the body has to go through. However, this can be accelerated as a result of an ailment, excessive sun exposure, insufficient rest, unhealthy lifestyle, and exposure to damaging elements. With all of the factors speeding up the aging process, the skin starts to suffer with wrinkles and blemishes starting to form. Nobody wants a dull-looking skin full of wrinkles, which is why manufacturers have created the so-called miracle skincare product: the anti-aging cream.

You might have invested a good amount of money on your anti-aging cream but you are wondering, when will I start seeing results? The answer depends on two factors: the kind of anti-aging cream you have and your skin type.

Ingredients of Anti-Aging Creams and When to Start Seeing the Changes

Anti-aging creams contain a mixture of active ingredients. For some creams, just one or two active ingredients are responsible for the “miracle” that will happen to your skin; for some, a combination of these substances is present. Here are some of the ingredients:

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule, which plays an important role in the lubrication and moisturization of connective tissues that are present in the different parts of the body, including your skin. It works by quickly drawing moisture from the air. It has a fast effect on the skin and you may start seeing results in just an hour after application.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is one of the popular substances in the health and skincare industry. It is rich in antioxidants, which protects the skin and the body against damages caused by free radicals. Vitamin C is important in the production and stabilization of collagen. When applied on the skin, it can lighten up dark spots while enhancing skin texture.

Applied as a cream or a serum, Vitamin C can block the free radicals from pollution and UV rays. Topical creams containing this substance can start to produce results at 1.5 months. However, if you want to really benefit from its effects, you need to give it more time to build up on your skin cells. This will take a few weeks and will result in plumper and younger-looking skin.

Caffeine

You may associate caffeine with your coffee, chocolate, and energy drinks. However, it does more than just boost your energy. It can also help you fight premature aging. When applied on the skin, its antioxidant properties start to do its job, which is to fight skin damage from exposure to free radicals and other environmental elements. It can lighten up dark patches on your skin, especially around your eyes.

Caffeine does wonders by constricting the blood vessels on the part where you apply it topically. It may be able to produce some instant results, especially when applied under the eyes. However, the average time it takes to actually see how it has benefited your skin is 2 months.

Peptides

Peptides are amino acids that deliver messages and commands to the skin cells. It signals the skin to increase production of proteins thereby enhancing skin firmness, reducing fine lines, and improving skin tone. The average time it takes for it to produce observable results on your skin in 3 months.

Retinol

Retinol is not to be confused with retinoic acid. While both are vitamin-A derived compounds, retinol is more commonly used in cosmetic products. Retinoic acid is a strong compound that requires prescription. To decelerate the aging process and result in a youthful-looking skin, retinol stimulates the turning over of skin cells. When the current skin cells shrivel up and die, it allows for the growth of new cells. Furthermore, retinol prevents collagen from breaking down while also thickening the skin layers from deep within.

The process by which retinol fights signs of aging may seem easy and fast. But this takes time, about 6 months to be exact, for it to produce desirable results. Most often, the use anti-aging creams containing retinol is halted even before it starts working.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid

The Alpha Hydroxy Acid is an exfoliating acid. It breaks down the glue holding the epidermal skin cells together. As a result, the skin becomes softer in an instant. As it collects in your system, it reduces the appearance of fine lines and addresses skin discoloration. However, these may take long before it becomes observable. This substance takes about 6 months for you to see the results.

How to Get the Best Out of an Anti-Aging Cream

Dermatologists offer the following tips to maximize the results of anti-aging creams:

Begin with a single anti-aging product.

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It can be tempting to buy and use a combination of different anti-aging creams for your routine. However, this may only aggravate the current condition of your skin or cause irritation. It is best to choose and use just one product then wait for an appropriate length of time to see if it does the job for you.

Test the product first.

Hypoallergenic anti-aging creams do not guarantee 100% free allergic reaction. Thus, test the product first on your inner forearms before applying it to your entire face or hands. Use only a small amount of cream for the test application, which must be repeated two times everyday for a period of 4 to 5 days. If you do not experience any redness or irritation from the test application, you can now apply the right amount on your hands and/or face.

Follow the manufacturer’s directions.

Many fail to read the directions on the product label, which lead them to using the cream improperly. Pay attention to the amount recommended for application then stick to it. Applying more than this amount may clog your pores, dry out your skin, or cause blotching.

For day anti-aging moisturizing creams, apply a marble-sized amount for every inch of your face, down to your neck and chest. Allow 2 minutes for it to be absorbed. Here is a tutorial on how to use this product: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsNwQbxmCgU

For eye creams, put a bead size of the product on your ring finger. Use it to stroke once under the eye starting from the hairline moving towards the nose. Stroke again over the eyelid starting from the inner corner then move outwards. Blend in the cream using gentle motions. Here is a tutorial to maximize the use of eye creams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL2uUJ_SFgs

For night treatments, wash your face first then wipe it lightly with a towel so that it remains damp. Take a pea-sized amount of the cream then apply it all over your face. Refer to this for the right way of application: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_Z7MqcptB0

Give time for the anti-aging cream to do its job.

As mentioned earlier, each product takes a different amount of time to start producing the desired results. Identify the active ingredients in the product so that you know how much time to allow it to work.

Continue using the product as soon as you see the results.

Some people stop using the product as soon as they start to see that it is working. You want the active ingredients to build up on your skin cells so that they can produce long term effects.

Reminders About Anti-Aging Cream Effects

An abundance of anti-aging creams and active ingredients for these skincare products are available in the market. These vary in terms of the amount of time it takes for them to work. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Some may take as short as an hour to produce instant effects while some take as much as 6 months to produce observable long-term effects.

Your skin type and skincare routine also affect the length of time for the product to do its job.

If you have questions about anti-aging products and the time it takes for them to work, feel free to comment below.